Sunday, December 22, 2013

Christmas at the Vatican 2013

Pope Francis’ first Advent and Christmas at the Vatican look set to be
much like those of his predecessors, but with the possibility of a few
surprises.

As in previous years, it will be liturgically intense, with no clear change in custom.

According to the liturgical schedule published Nov. 28 by Msgr. Guido
Marini, master of papal liturgical ceremonies, Pope Francis will visit the pediatric Bambino Gesu hospital in
Rome.

Announcing the visit at a Vatican concert in support of the
hospital on Dec. 2, Archbishop Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of
state, said that, like his predecessors, Pope Francis shows "a father’s
overflowing love for children."

"The more childhood is protected and promoted," Archbishop Parolin
said, "the much greater the hope of a balanced and peaceful future will
be." And he added that a serene environment is "indispensable in
allowing children and their parents, already tested by illness and pain,
to deal with these harsh circumstances of life, in a climate filled
with humanity and delicacy."

Founded in 1869, the hospital is now part of Italy’s health-care
system, although it remains on extraterritorial grounds administered by
the Holy See. It has developed a high level of expertise in treating
children coming not only from Rome or Italy, but also from neighboring
European countries.

At 9:30pm on Dec. 24, Pope Francis will begin the celebration of
Christmas Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica. Benedict XVI also celebrated
midnight Mass at an earlier time during his later years. Also, unlike
Blessed John Paul II, Francis won’t be celebrating an additional Mass on
Christmas morning.

Instead, at noon on Christmas Day, from the loggia of St. Peter’s
basilica, the Holy Father will deliver the customary address to the
faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square and give his address and
blessing "urbi et orbi" (to the city and the world).

In the past, the message has been a general survey of the world
situation, with particular reference made to conflicts. The situation in
Syria — of great concern to the Pope — will undoubtedly be mentioned,
as will violence and unrest in the wider region.

But Francis may also add some specifics into his message, relating it
more to the common man and his own priorities of world concerns. Those
suffering from economic strife, youth unemployment and the welfare of
the elderly — also all issues of special concern to the Holy Father —
are likely to warrant a mention.

The next major papal liturgy will be vespers on Dec. 31 in St. Peter’s
Basilica, during which the Pope will lead the "Te Deum" in thanksgiving
to God for the year that is ending.

Then, on Jan. 1, the feast of Mary, Mother of God, and the 47th World
Day of Prayer for Peace, Pope Francis will celebrate Mass at 10am in St.
Peter’s Basilica.

The theme of the message for 2014 is "Fraternity, the Foundation and
Pathway to Peace," echoing the Pope’s calls for solidarity that have
become a hallmark of his pontificate.

"In the face of the many tragedies that afflict the family of nations —
poverty, hunger, underdevelopment, conflicts, migrations, pollution,
inequalities, injustice, organized crime, fundamentalisms — fraternity
is the foundation and the pathway to peace," the Vatican said in a
statement issued in July.

"Fraternity is a dowry that every man and
every woman brings with himself or herself as a human being, as a child
of the one Father."

The Vatican statement also underscored that, in modern society, the
predominant "culture of personal well-being" leads to "a loss of the
sense of responsibility and fraternal relationship."

Living a life based in fraternity is "a gift and task that comes from
God the Father," the message will underline; it will urge others to be
"in solidarity against inequality and poverty that undermine the social
fabric, to take care of every person, especially the weakest and most
defenseless, to love him or her as oneself, with the very heart of Jesus
Christ."

Fraternity, the message will say, serves to defeat the spread of the
globalization of indifference to which Pope Francis has frequently
referred. As an alternative, the Pope will propose a "globalization of
fraternity," which leaves its mark on "every aspect of life, including
the economy, finance, civil society, politics, research, development,
public and cultural institutions."

The Christmas season ends in January.

On Jan. 6, the feast of the
Epiphany, the Holy Father will celebrate Mass at 10am in St. Peter’s
Basilica.

And as is customary, on the feast of the Baptism of the Lord,
Jan. 12, Pope Francis will celebrate Mass in the Sistine Chapel and
baptize infants.

Other traditions will also remain intact at the Vatican.

A near
life-size crib is erected in St. Peter’s Square, this year created
by artisans from Naples, Italy. As the Nativity scene tradition dates
from the time of St. Francis of Assisi, this year’s theme will aptly be:
"Francis 1223-Francis 2013."

Meanwhile, the usual large Christmas tree already adorns St. Peter’s
Square. Transported in from Bavaria, Germany, on Dec. 6, it is more than
80 feet high.

Throughout the Christmas festivities, Pope Francis will undoubtedly
remind the faithful of the true meaning of the Nativity, beyond its
identification with consumerism that is so prevalent in the West.

"Christmas isn’t just a temporal celebration or the memory of a
beautiful [event]," the Holy Father said in his morning homily Dec. 2.
"Christmas is something more: Christmas is an encounter [with the
Lord]."